1
as in has a fit
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the building blew up because of a gas leak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shatters
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracks up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blows up
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Cool, chaotic, and hyper-curious, Xav blows up his sound without losing his style.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
This blows up dinner in a big way.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
The compact vacuum even blows up air mattresses and compresses vacuum storage bags.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
What's Daryl’s psyche like after that boat blows up, and how is that going to play out in season 4?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Cool, chaotic, and hyper-curious, Xav blows up his sound without losing his style.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
This blows up dinner in a big way.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 6 Nov. 2025
The compact vacuum even blows up air mattresses and compresses vacuum storage bags.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
What's Daryl’s psyche like after that boat blows up, and how is that going to play out in season 4?
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
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Vann instantly explodes, then runs off into the distance, making it across the street before collapsing to the ground where a resident tried to help him with damp towels.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 Apr. 2026
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There’s an intimacy to it in the verses, and then there’s a big dynamic jump, an octave jump between the verse and the chorus, which just explodes into this hopeful, optimistic thing.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Related Stories The film shatters stereotypical visuals of space, veering away from cold and desaturated colors, and using warmer tones such as orange.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
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His refusal to take the curse seriously shatters her trust, leaving her questioning their entire relationship.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During one particularly fun moment shared by the LPGA Tour on Instagram, Clark cracks up at Cunningham's energetic approach to the sport — which ended in her accidentally hitting a fan with the ball.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Wark smashes a ball to left field for the Aggies to retake the lead, 7-5.—
Zoe Collins Rath,
Austin American Statesman,
27 Mar. 2026
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Delivery robot smashes into glass of bus shelter in Old Town on Tuesday afternoon.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The University of Beer location in Folsom is barreling toward its final days as the business announces it closure.—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Customers in the Atlanta metro area will soon be able to see their food take flight as DoorDash announces new drone delivery service.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Security snarls The TSA PreCheck line at terminal B in LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on March 27, 2026.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
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Beyond the red tape that snarls any new apartment, condominiums confront an additional hurdle.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Those chemicals, salts and metals have concentrated over time in the lake bed sediments, and they get stirred up into the air when the wind blows through.—
Jill Johnston,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
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As the wind blows between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, the velocity increases and carries the sand grains from the sandstone.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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